The three teen inmates escaped the facility early Sunday morning in less than 15 minutes, officials said. (Google Earth)

An alleged killer is loose in Houston after three teen inmates attacked a security guard and broke out on Sunday morning.

A trio of locked-up teens escaped after Alferis Coby, a murder suspect, brutally beat a guard and stole his keys, Tom Brooks, executive director of the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department said.

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The alleged murderer tricked the officer into open his cell by asking for toiletries at about 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, the official said. The teen darted out of the cell and attacked the guard, giving him a black eye and sending him to the hospital, NBC News reported.

The 16-year-old inmate stole the officer's keys and phone, and freed Jahrell West and an unnamed teen, Brooks said. The trio of dangerous troublemakers escaped the juvenile detention center after sneaking through the building's security system in less than 15 minutes, Brooks said.

"I can tell you that they're very dangerous," he warned. "We're asking the public's help to try to locate these juveniles."

Coby is wanted for murder, aggravated robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. He was 15 when he allegedly shot a man in a parking lot on March 12 before stealing a car, Houston police said.

A court diagnostic study said the teen showed no remorse while admitting to shooting the man, and lacked emotions completely, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Jahrell West is wanted for aggravated robbery and burglary. The two were being tried as adults for their violent crimes, the director said.

The third teen inmate will still face charges as a minor.

The three inmates were wearing white shirts and khakis when they escaped early Sunday morning. Police are looking into how the three could have gotten through the juvenile center's security protocol.